Ed. Note: if you’re new to TURBOFAC, please take note that the text string filtration function generally shouldn’t be used for terms such as “ordinarily resident,” “causing” or “new debt”. For research on the meaning of words and phrases such as those, i.e. terms central to the key legal issues in sanctions law that appear on a cross-programmatic basis, you’re typically better off locating and checking the appropriate box in the “Key Legal Issues” search category, which will limit the results to those that have been manually assessed as being relevant for the interpretation of the terms at issue.
Try typing your search term (“ordinarily resident,” “new debt,” or something else) in the “Find a Search Filter” box at the top of the page, and the corresponding “Key Legal Issues” check box will pop up instantly, if one exists. Once you check the box (e.g. “new debt,” with ~55 results), you can always use the text string filtration function to further refine your search (e.g. by typing “invoice” and narrowing the ~55 results to ~10).
Note in addition that the same applies to text string searches such as “14071” (if you’re looking for items related to EO 14071). By typing “14071” in the “Find a Search Filter” field up top, you will be able to instantly narrow the results down to items manually assessed as relating to EO 14071. Ditto terms such as “515.204” or “Iran General License G” (try the “Discrete Legal Provision” search category).
Please contact [email protected] or [email protected] with any questions on search results and efficiency.
Please click "Apply Text String Filters" again after clicking the "Close" button immediately below.
1) 515.560(c)(2) is the authority for the in-Cuba purchases:
"Living expenses in Cuba. All transactions ordinarily incident to travel within Cuba, including payment of living expenses and the acquisition in Cuba of goods for personal consumption there, are authorized."
There is no definition or guidance as to what constitutes "goods for personal consumption."
The importations are governed by 515.560(c)(3).
"The purchase or other acquisition in Cuba and importation as accompanied baggage into the United States of merchandise is authorized, provided that the merchandise is imported for personal use only. The importation of Cuban-origin information and informational materials is exempt from the prohibitions of this part, as described in §515.206. The importation of certain other specified goods and services is authorized in §§515.544, 515.547, 515.569, 515.578, 515.582, and 515.585."
2) See https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/cbp-public-notice-process-imports-cuba (Jan, 2019) on "personal use" limits. See FAQ # 717, clarifying that “OFAC considers ‘personal use’ of an imported item to include giving the item to another individual as a personal gift, but not the transfer of the item to another person for payment or other consideration.”
3) FAQ amended on 9-23-2020 to account for the removal of “Cuban-origin alcohol or tobacco products” from the scope of 515.569.